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No. 620,672. Patented Mar. 7, I899. V. E. ROBBINS.

KING BOLT FDR WAGUNS.

(Application filed Apr, 29, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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Qh E y Z35 /2. mm? ma Qua? UNITED STATES VICTOR E. ROBBINS, OF ROSLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF I HENRY M. IV. EASTMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

PATENT OFFICE.

AND

KING-BOLT FOR WAGONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,672, dated March "7, I899.

Application filed April 29, 1898.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LVICTOR E. ROBBINs,a citizen of the United States, residing at Roslyn, in the county of Queens, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement Relating to King-Bolts for lVagons, of which the following is a specification.

I provide in addition to the regular segmental bearing-plates of a fifth-wheel a kingbolt with ball-bearings peculiarly located for protection from dust and so adjusted that these ball-bearings will take a portion say two-thirdsof the load and the fifth-wheel will take the remainder.

It is desirable to facilitate the turning of the front axle; but there is danger on some kinds of road of making the lateral oscillations too easy.

My invention while providing an antifriction device provides also by a fifth-wheel adequate support to withstand rocking and also friction sufficient to restrain the oscillations.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a wagon provided with my invention. Fig. 2 shows a portion on a larger scale. It is a central vertical section. Fig. 3 is, a correspondin g section of a central portion on a stilllarger scale. Fig. 4 is a section corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing a modification.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they appear.

A is the front axle, and A the lower half of the fifth-wheel.

B is a portion of the under gear, sometimes termed the bed, of the wagon-body, and B the metal wheel or segment which forms. the base thereof and rests and turns on the lower segment A. The two, A and B, constitute the fifth-wheel. These parts may be made and matched together in any ordinary or suitable fashion to perform their functions of properly supporting the front portion of the wagon-body upon the front axle and allowing the proper turning motion; but I relieve it Serial No. 679,196. (No model.)

from a large portion of the load by the provisions now to be described.

O is the king-bolt, which performs its ordinary functions, and O is a fork or clip embracing the front aXle, capable of receiving and transmitting to the front axle any required proportion of the load.

D is a separately-formed bearing having its circumference finished cylindrical and its top flat, with a circular groove (1.

E is a corresponding cap attached .to the running-gear of the wagon and having a lip E, extending down and matching loosely against the periphery of the bearing D. The face of the cap within the lip corresponds to the top of the bearing against which it applies, being flat, with a circular groove 6. A set of antifriction-balls is placed in the grooves.

The king-bolt may be equipped with any ordinary provisions for keeping the wagonbed B, and consequently the cap E, loosely in contact with the front axle A and with the bearing D and allowing liberty for the turning motion.

My invention is intended to facilitate the turning of the front axle without giving it too great freedom. The portion of the weight supported on the balls G may be increased or diminished within considerable limits with out defeating the objects of the invention. I prefer the proportion stated, about two thirds on the ball-bearings, and consequently allowing the turning with diminished resistance, due to these approved antifriction devices, and one-third on the properly lubricated but much more frictional bearing afforded by the fifth-wheel A B.

The balls G, rolling in the annular grooves d e, not only make an antifriction-bearing, but also aid materially to relieve the king-bolt from side strains. The lip E is never brought into frictional contact with the adjacent periphery of the circular bearing D.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. The depth of the lip around the bearing D may be increased or diminished; so, also, its thickness may be varied. The principal function performed by this portion is the exclusion of dust. There may be a hole to facilitate lubrication. The bearing D may be made integral with the enlargement of the king-bolt, if preferred, in any case.

Although I do not consider that it Will be generally necessary, it is practicable to have two or even more of the circular grooves d e i on the upper surface of the bearing D and the adjacent surface of the interior of the cap E. Fig. 4 shows two such series.

The proportion of the weight carried frictionally on the fifth wheel may be greater or less than one-third. Of course these fractions refer only to that portion of the weight of the entire load which comes on the front axle.

I claim as my invention-"- 1. In a king-bolt-,;bearing the fifth-wheel plates A B affording a broad and frictional support, in combination with the small bearing 1) surrounding the king-bolt C carried on the axle and having the annular groove d in its upper face, the antifriction-balls G running therein, and the cap E having the annular groove 6 and the dust-excluding lip E, arranged to serve substantially as herein specified.

2. In a king-bolt bearing, the combination with the fifth-Wheel plates A B, a cap E havin g a marginally-depending flange, a platform D carried on the axle and extending upward within said cap and having avertical central king-bolt opening through both the cap and the platform and terminating at the bottom of the latter in an enlarged recess, the contiguous faces of the platform and cap having annular grooves, antifriction-balls therein, and a king-bolt passing through the cap and platform, the enlarged recess adapting the device for the reception of a checknut for the king-bolt, substantially as herein specified.

Intestimony that I claim the invention above set forth I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- VICTOR E. ROBBINS.

Witnesses:

HENRY M. W. EASTMAN, A. E. MARVIN. 

